Game poles with detachable boundary markers



July 23, 1968 R. SAFINA 3,393,913

GAME POL-ES WITH DETACHABLE BOUNDARY MARKERS Filed April 15, 1965 IN vavroe RICHARD SAFIM A T TORNE Y.

United States Patent 3,393,913 GAME POLES WITH DETACHABLE BOUNDARYMARKERS Richard Safina, San Rafael, Calif. (1666 Center Road, Novato,Calif. 94947) Filed Apr. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 448,315 1 Claim. (Cl.273-118) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to agame apparatus having game poles with detachable boundary markers whichare suitably arranged on a playing field that is defined at its ends bygoal line strips and at its sides by lateral boundary strips, the saidstrips being detachably secured to the game poles. Players arranged inopposing teams stationed behind the goal lines endeavor to direct andadvance the ball across an opposing teams goal line by means ofdart-like projectiles discharged from toy pistols, while at the sametime each team attempts to protect its own goal line by preventing theball from crossing the same.

The primary object of my invention is to provide improved game apparatusof the kind characterized, which will provide amusement for a number ofplayers.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed outhereinafter or will be indicated in the appended claim or will beobvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the presentdisclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to showherein certain forms and details of a game apparatus which isrepresentative of my invention; it is to be understood, however, thatthe embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is forpurposes of illustration only, and that therefore it is not to beregarded as exhaustive of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus embodying theprinciples of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the goalposts;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of thecentrally arranged posts employed in supporting the lateral boundarystrips and in holding the center line marker in place;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view taken through one of the goalposts;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view taken through one of the sideposts;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary part of one of the side strips employed as alateral boundary defining a side of the playing field;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary part of one of the narrow strips used as a goalline or the center line of the playing field;

FIG. 8 is a side view of one of the toy pistols used in playing thegame; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of a projectile or dart adapted to be fired fromthe pistol.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a substantiallylevel playing field which may be located indoors or outdoors, whereversuitable facilities are provided therefor. The playing field may be ofany suitable size, such as ten feet in width and twenty feet in length,and it is substantially rectangular in shape, with its four cornersbeing marked by upright goal posts 11 which are supported by and securedto properly weighted base members 12. The base members are each formedwith a suitably placed hole within which an end of its associated goalpost snugly fits. Secured to the lower ends of each pair of goal posts,as by suitable snap-on fasteners 13, are narrow goal line strips 14lying on the playing field and which define the ends of the playingfield. The snapon fasteners are of the usual type comprising male andfemale parts which may be pressed together when connected and separatedfrom each other when detached. The male part of each fastener ispreferably, although not necessarily, attached to the goal line strip 14while the female part is carried by the goal post. Either or both endportions of the goal line strips 14 may be provided at suitably spacedintervals with the male parts of the fasteners 13 so the width of theplaying field may be increased or decreased if so desired.

Secured to the sides of the goal posts 11, as by suitable snap-onfasteners 15, are upright lateral boundary strips 16 which arepreferably seven inches in width, more or less. Here also, the male partof each snap-on fastener is preferably secured to the lateral boundarystrip 16 while the female part of such fastener is carried by the goalpost. The lateral boundary strips 16 are attached to center posts 17which are detachably supported on suitably weighted base members 18. Thelateral boundary strips 16 are made in two sections which are suitablyjoined together, as by an adhesive, to provide right angle, projectingflanges, as at 19, the said joined flanges extending into vertical slots20 in the center posts. Secured to the lower ends of the center posts17, as by snap-on fasteners 21, is a narrow center line strip 22 whichrests on the playing field and is positioned midway between the goalline strips 14. A suitably colored loop member 23 extending around thecenter strip 22 and arranged for slidable adjustment on such strip isused as a ball spotter to support and position the playing ball when theplay is commenced. Either or both of the end portions of the center linestrip 22 may be provided at suitably spaced intervals with snap-onfastener parts to correspond to the arrangement of the fastener parts onthe goal line strips. The goal line strips 14, the boundary strips 16and the center line strip 22 are preferably made of a suitable plasticmaterial so they each may be compactly rolled for convenient packaging.

A suitable light-weight, hollow, rubber ball 24, approximately sixinches in diameter, is used in playing the game. The ball is placed onthe loop member 23 when starting the game. The opposing players of eachteam, preferably seated on chairs 24' arranged behind the goal lines,use guns or toy pistols 25 to direct darts or projectiles 26 against theball, to move it toward and preferably across an opponents goal line. Asshown in FIG. 8, the toy pistol is of the kind commonly used todischarge a dart 26, such pistol having a coiled compression spring (notshown) which is adapted to be charged when the shank of the dart isforcibly inserted in the barrel of the pistol. The dart is suitably heldfor firing against the pressure of the spring by a catch member (notshown) which is adapted to be released from the dart by a trigger, tocause the discharge of the dart from the pistol. The constructions ofthe pistol 25 and the darts 26 are well known, so a detailedillustration thereof is not considered necessary. It is intended thateach team, comprising any suitable number of players, shall use dartswhich have a color distinguishing them from the darts used by theopposing team.

Although not shown on the drawings, the base members 12 and 18 may beprovided with suction cups for anchoring such base members to a smoothfloor or the like. The strips 14, 16 and 22 are preferably made from aflexible plastic or a suitable fabric so they may be rolled into compactrolls for storing.

What I claim is:

1. In amusement apparatus of the kind utilizing game poles withdetachable boundary markers arranged on a playing field of substantiallyrectangular shape, upstanding goal posts positioned at the four cornersof the playing field, goal line strips resting on and defining the endsof the playing field, means detachably securing the lower ends of thegoal posts to the goal line strips, upstanding center posts positionedat the lateral boundaries of the playing field midway between the goalline strips, a center line strip resting on and extending across theplaying field and positioned midway between and parallel to the goalline strips, means detachably securing the center line strip to thelower ends of the center posts, vertical side strip-s defining thelateral boundaries of the playing field, the side strips being securedto and supported by the goal References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSMoore 273-31 Nehl 273-1 Bowen 273-1 Floyd 2735 Pierson 273118 Anthony273176 Benditt 273138 Johnson 273-481 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, PrimaryExaminer.

posts and the center posts, and a ball spotter adjustably 15 T. ZACK,Assistant Examiner.

fastened to the center line strip.

